After the volume on the Battle of Hastings written by Pierre Bouet and commented there are few right here, this is the second one that opens this new collection of Tallandier , "The battles in history." It is written by Arnaud Blin , a political scientist rather specialized in the history of conflict and terrorism: he notably wrote a book on Tamerlane and another on the Peace of Westphalia (1648).
For Arnaud Blin, as he explains in his introduction, the Battle of Wagram is stored at the side of Austerlitz or Friedland in decisive battles won by Napoleon. Decisive battles that lead quickly to the policy. Wagram illustrates the phenomenon of war for war, typical of all empires, four years after Austerlitz, where Austria had been defeated with Russia, Napoleon found on the battlefield. But Austria is a different from that of Austerlitz that it was now in front of him at war with France since 1792 and continuously until defeated in Vienna begins at that time to catch up strategy. For the military revolution initiated by Napoleon still haunts the conscience of the Pentagon largely from 2011 through the writings of Jomini or Clausewitz who are directly inspired. 1809 marks a turning point: the Napoleonic war machine is at its peak, but it bogged down in the nest already English Announces "asymmetric warfare" of the late twentieth century and the twenty-first century. Wagram is considered by the author as last great victory of Napoleon , which is already beginning to show some limitations. Arnaud Blin, military victory against Austria is costly to the emperor, as it was forced to fight on two fronts, with Spain, and has upset the balance established in Europe by the Peace of Westphalia of 1648 . U continental hegemonic power does, here in France, is opposed to a hegemonic maritime power: England . Military victory no longer guarantees the political victory: it announces even a "total war" own in the twentieth century. Wagram is the culmination of a campaign over several months. At Aspern- Essling Napoleon was held in check by the Archduke Charles , one of the toughest opponents of the emperor, who also lost one of its brightest Marshals Lannes , killed by a ball. Both versions of the Battle of Wagram, the French side as the Austrian side, are masterpieces of propaganda where we denigrate the mistakes of the opponent in order to highlight his own talents. The Archduke Charles is more likely to emphasize the power of the opposing army to explain its own defeat, whereas the French side, it highlights the genius of Napoleon more than the value of the military confrontation between two men rather than between two human masses.
Ultimately, the Archduke Charles arrives to save his army after Wagram. The losses amount to an entirely 70-80 000 men, probably pretty equal on both sides. The battle was particularly hard for the units most at risk in particular. It was marked by widespread use and devastating artillery, and numerous hand-to-body , giving a face pretty inhumane confrontation. A threshold has been exceeded violence. Wagram does not yet end the campaign: it Znaim, 10 and 11 July, the Austrians suffered their last defeat. The Treaty of Schoenbrunn , signed October 14, spends the Austrian defeat, and will lead to marriage of Napoleon with Marie Louise, daughter of the emperor. Wagram represented component "mass war" a war where wear is also part of English guerrillas. The Archduke Charles still reasons strategist of the eighteenth century: it does not carry its success at Aspern-Essling Napoleon leaves and transfer its entire army on the island of Lobau. Instead, Napoleon, after his defeat, was able to question and learn from its mistakes: concentration in the island of Lobau large battery of artillery and general offensive all along the front during the battle. Paradoxically, the Archduke Charles, one of the best opponents of Napoleon, will be the scapegoat for the defeat at Wagram and will be shelved. Sad fate for a man whose value today is becoming the military qualities.
's book stands out fairly Arnaud Blin markedly from that of Pierre Bouet on Hastings. The maps are numerous, but are less explicit: for the most part, they have the status of forces but without indicating significant movement at the Battle of Wagram in particular. So we just follow his progress. There are no illustrations in the book , unlike its counterpart on Hastings, which is a shame. Where he was appearing more like u No model of the new "battle history " (presentation of the context, forces, conduct of combat, consequences), this volume presents itself as more analysis politico-military developments in the art of war . The approach is different, but not necessarily less interesting. An indicative bibliography can pursue the matter. Expect to see the following volumes of the collection to be sure that quality is maintained!
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